I must report some success with the previously reported problems with Apache, MySql and PHP and thanks all those that were kind enough to offer advice.  

My actions today were:-
(1)  Removed snd reinstalled Apache.

(2)  Modified /etc/Apache2/vhosts.d/00_default_vhost.conf to set   AllowOverride All instead of None.

(3) Created a new .htaccess file in /var/www/localhost/htdocs

(4) Added php_flag register_globals On in item (3).  This was required by the package I am using.

Following these changes everything is operating as required.
Many thanks everyone.

It's me again and I spite of the advice given the standard Pardus Apache, Mysql, PHP package that can be installed from the package repository does not work as one would resonably expect.   mod_rewrite is loaded, AllowOverride in httpd.conf can be changed from None to All but .htaccess won't work.

Equally <?php phpinfo() ?> says that the php.ini file is in /etc/php but it quite clearly is not.

Can anyone help please?   From other comments I am not the only one who is confused to say the least.

Perhaps the Pardus gurus responsible for the Apache, Mysql, PHP packages could explain what is going on.  I am no expert but I can find nothing on the net that helps at all.  Largely because the packages seem to be set up in a unique way.    I am sorry to be such a pest.

Thanks for your help Jan.
I am now doing what you suggest and am using Apache, PHP,  and Mysql packages from Pardus.   I hope that .htaccess will be useable very soon as without it cannot use 'friendly URLs.

Kind Regards  Peter

Many thanks Jan for this information.  I assume the you are using the Pardus Apache PHP and MySql on your laptop.

My interest is in web development but in the past I have always worked
under Windows XP using a WAMP package.

I have recently installed Pardus and I like the product very much.  I do want to run CMS packages like Etomite. I have installed Apache, PHP, Mysql from Pardus site and these packages run OK together but I am having problems getting .htaccess URL redirection to work.

I am not sure why but seems that Apache is set up to run PHP as a CGI package and I know this spells trouble.  I know that I can download a LAMP package and run Etomite but I would like to use the Pardus version of a LAMP.

Can anyone please help me to get PHP to run directly from Apache?